February 27, 2015

From Gary... War, Chess and the Greatness of God


As far back as the very early 70's I have been somewhat interested in Chess (and at times, a bit too interested). Over the past few years, I have given my chess sets to my family, but lately I have been thinking about playing again. Although I will probably wind up just playing against my own computer or perhaps in the USCF (United States Chess Federation [online]), still I have thought of doing something new- namely 3 player chess. I imagine it will be a bit like real war, with confusion and turmoil abounding. Well, you can guess what I thought of next...

Genesis, Chapter 14 (WEB)
  1 In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim,  2 they made war with Bera, king of Sodom, and with Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, and Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar).  3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).  4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.  5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,  6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness.  7 They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.  8 The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;  9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.  10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills.  11 They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.  12 They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 

  13  One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were allies of Abram.  14 When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.  15 He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.  16 He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 

  17  The king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).  18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.  19 He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:  20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” 

Abram gave him a tenth of all. 

  21  The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.” 

  22  Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,  23 that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’  24 I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.” 

There is very little good that comes out of war- any war!!! However, this story is referred to in the book of Hebrews in regard to tithing, the Levitical Priesthood and the greatness of Jesus and The New Covenant.

Hebrews, Chapter 7 (WEB)
  1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,  2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace;  3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.  4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best plunder.  5 They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,  6 but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.  7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.  8 Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.  9 We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,  10 for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.  11 Now if there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?  12 For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.  13 For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.  14 For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.  15 This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,  16 who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:  17 for it is testified, 
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”

  18  For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness  19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.  20 Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath  21 (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, 
“The Lord swore and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.’”

  22  By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.  23 Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.  24 But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.  25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them. 

Once you get past all the names, places and events of war, you begin to see how God can work out all these things to do his will. And I thank God that HE did, for it just goes to show you HIS POWER!!! I still like the idea of 3-player chess- but I wonder who moves first????

ps. I have also seen 4 PLAYER BOARDS!!!

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